Crankbrothers Candy 7 pedal evaluation: A extra free pedalling really feel, however with diminished sturdiness

In the off-road clipless pedal world, one fashion of pedal and clipping-in mechanism dominates: Shimano SPD. While manufacturers, together with Shimano itself, in addition to Look, Hope, Nukeproof and DMR all use the SPD cleat retention system, Crankbrothers has been a notable outlier in utilizing a light-weight, simplistic ‘egg-beater’ fashion design. 

Its Candy pedals add a refined alloy platform to this design for a little bit extra foot assist, and the Candy 7 mannequin represents its newest model of this design.

The Candy 7s include loads of marketed benefits, together with a lighter clipping-in ‘really feel,’ 4-sided pedal entry and customisable launch angle and float. Fitted to each a gravel and XC-oriented bike, I used to be eager to check how they felt, and whether or not they justify their inclusion in our information to the most effective gravel bike pedals. 

Design and Aesthetics 

With a reputation like ‘Candy,’ you’d anticipate these pedals to be brightly colored, and certainly there’s an Electric Blue, Red (which additionally comes with a vibrant red-painted spring)…and black possibility. Naturally, I had the plain black. In the field comes a set of brass cleats not like the solid metal choices seen in different manufacturers, 4 M4-head hex bolts, cleat spacers for deeper-treaded footwear and a QR code for the instruction handbook.

Even in black, the Candy 7s are ostensibly ‘designed.’ There’s a refined emblem embossed into the physique, flashes of silver contrasting to the black, and the alloy our bodies have a checkered tread-plate engraved in. The axle is metal, the spring and clips chrome steel, and there’s an alloy bash guard on the tip.

It’s value noting that the mechanism is a little bit totally different to most SPD pedals. The inner ‘eggbeater’ clip mechanism with 4-sided entry can rotate freed from the outer alloy cage, that means that, in principle, you simply stamp down on the pedals and the eggbeater rotates itself to a degree the place you clip in.

Despite their bigger pedal construction and platform, with the mixture of an alloy physique and light-weight mechanism, these weigh in at a really respectable 329g/11.6oz for a pair.

Performance 

Set-up with these pedals is, arguably, even easier than one thing just like the Shimano XTR M9100 that I not too long ago reviewed. There’s no adjustment in any respect – pedals on, cleats on, and go. While pedal rigidity is fixed and would seemingly scale back barely because the spring fatigued, you may regulate pedal launch angle via a selection of 4 totally different cleats – that launch your foot at both 10 or 15 levels, and that permit your foot to ‘float’  (rotate freely with out unclipping) for both 0 levels or 6 levels. 

I received the plain golden cleats, which have are essentially the most beneficiant float, permitting a 15 levels launch and 6 levels float angle.

I’ve used Crank Brothers pedals earlier than, however coming from a few years of SPD use it took some getting re-used to. During clipping in, there’s some tactile and audible suggestions, however nothing just like the distinctive click-clack of SPDs. Clipping out was considerably much less crisp, with a really refined change from the very fringe of being clipped in to being clipped out. Eventually, I grew to depend on muscle reminiscence and apply to know once I was connected.

On the paths, this refined really feel, beneficiant float and launch angle meant I handled these fairly like flat pedals, not clipless. Instead of staying clipped in and leaning arduous towards the pedals to barter turns, or jump over obstacles, I discovered myself regularly unclipping to place a foot down or driving sections with one foot clipped, the opposite pedalling rested towards the pedal physique, however unclipped. 

In the muddy and unpredictable circumstances of mid-February, this created a really pure and fluid driving fashion, and certainly that is one which Crank Brothers aficionados regularly reward. The 4-sided ‘egg-beater’ clipping mechanism got here into its personal – it rotates freely contained in the alloy platform, that means that I might simply discover the best angle. They additionally act as an efficient mud-clearing mechanism – spin to take away any cussed bits.

Despite the preliminary vagueness, as soon as I used to be used to it my toes remained linked solidly even via myriad bumps and ranging pedalling speeds out and in of the saddle.

On my gravel bike, there was an impression of very slight assist afforded by the added pedal physique, no less than in comparison with the unique Eggbeaters or different cageless SPD pedals. On longer rides involving prolonged durations of seated pedalling, my toes felt snug with not one of the ‘ghost’ stress exerted by narrower pedals. I felt just like the Candy 7s excelled with softer-soled footwear, which gripped when unclipped and felt much more communicative of their motion.

The impression on the Crank Brothers web site is that these pedals are designed to be sturdy and have a long-lasting service life, with double-sealed Enduro bearings and chamfered edges to forestall rock strikes. A cynic may say it is because servicing them is sort of concerned, needing a hex key, a hex socket wrench, a bearing drift, torx keys and myriad different instruments which could delay the house mechanic. The alloy physique and mushy brass cleats have been additionally beginning to look drained after just some months of driving. In all, Shimano’s comparatively sturdy and easier-to-service choices have them beat.

I additionally know that Will Jones’ Candy 7’s had bearings which solely seized up in beneath a 12 months. You ought to in all probability consider an annual service, both at residence or with a mechanic of your selecting for an optimum service life. 

Value

For me, the last word subject is value – at £189.99 RRP, the Candy 7 is a costlier pedal than most of its opponents, together with even Hope’s Union TCs that are, ostensibly, a ‘premium’ possibility. Nukeproof’s Horizon CS Ti pedals are available on the similar value however with the fanciness of a titanium axle. As such, most of those SPD-compatible pedals undercut the Candy 7s with out the cleat put on and strange clipping-in motion.

There are, after all, cheaper choices within the vary although. If the marginally extra free really feel appeals to you then there are Candy choices all the way down to round £40/$50, foregoing the alloy physique for plastic amongst different adjustments. For the 7 nonetheless it is a tougher promote on the worth entrance. 

Verdict 

The Crankbrothers Candy 7s stand out as an fascinating different choice to the clipless off-road pedal. Ultimately, it comes all the way down to the client whether or not flashy beauty, a lighter clipping motion, and extra pure really feel on the paths are well worth the excessive value and diminished sturdiness. 

Different for certain, with the caveat that being totally different usually comes with its share of compromises.